MARCH 2026 NEWS 

Message from Dr Xanthe Venn, Senior Research Fellow,
Adelaide University

Importantly, the project not only delivered scientifically relevant findings with potential to deliver meaningful antibiotic alternatives but also demonstrated industrial scalability for bioactive MgO PMPs.

The project has recently concluded with several new pathways for on going product development in addition to forthcoming research publications. Read on for more details.

In other SAAFE news, the year has started with the launch of the AMR Data Code and publication of the 2025 Annual Report. Download these reports in full from our website.

In this month's AMR News you'll also meet SAAFE PhD Scholar Donna McCann and find updates on recent and upcoming events, including EDAR8, and recent AMR articles and scientific publications. 

As always, we love to hear from you. If you have news, achievements, or exciting projects to share, please get in touch. Your stories are what keep our AMR community connected and inspired.

RETHINKING ANTIBIOTICS: NEW MATERIALS, NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

Reducing reliance on antibiotics in animal industries requires more than good management, it demands new solutions. A SAAFE-supported project led by Calix and the University of South Australia explored how nanostructured materials could offer effective alternatives to antibiotics, with promising results for animal health and AMR mitigation.

AMR DATA CODE LAUNCHED

Following the conclusion of the Agribusiness Digital Transformation project, the first edition of the AMR Data Code has been launched for the SAAFE community. The Code is the first of several resources developed by the project team to help SAAFE partners undertaking AMR or AMU projects to review their data governance and maximise the benefits of their research.

The project was led by the University of Queensland as a co-investment partnership with the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) through the Food Security Data Challenges program (DOI: 10.47486/DC104). The ARDC is enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

SAAFE 2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Our 2025 report is available now on our website and we're excited to share progress across our programs, projects and partnerships and to thank our growing community for your ongoing commitment to our shared purpose of finding solutions to AMR.

EDAR8 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Registrations are now open for EDAR8, the world-leading conference on the environmental dimensions of AMR, coming to Brisbane from August 3-7, 2026. Hosted by SAAFE CRC, EDAR8 brings together global leaders across research, industry and policy to tackle one of the biggest health challenges of our time.

At EDAR8, groundbreaking science meets real-world solutions. It’s where bold ideas, cross-sector collaboration and practical action drive lasting impact for communities, industries and the planet.

SAAFE SCHOLAR IN FOCUS: DONNA MCCANN

EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEWS

PhD recruitment: Ecological Risks from Flood-borne Contaminants in Nonurban Landscapes

Want to work with a multidisciplinary team at the The University of Queensland and collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency Victoria and Northern Arizona University on a project to quantify ecological risks from flood-borne contaminants in non-urban landscapes?

Apply now to work on this project which is supported by a scholarship including living stipend of $45K per year and tuition fees.

The successful candidate will benefit from SAAFE's research network and receive a dedicated $21K fund for personal development.

AMR OPPORTUNITIES 

PhD proposal applications 
SAAFE PhD proposal applications are now open. The SAAFE funding package offers:

• A top-up living allowance scholarship of up to $15k per year for 3.5 years FTE
• A professional development funding package of $21k per candidate for 3 years

Like SAAFE projects, PhD proposals should be driven by an identified industry need. Projects can be submitted under 3 categories:

• Student-proposed project
• University-proposed project
• Co-designed project with university and industry partner 

Please contact SAAFE's E&T Program Manager Dr Lisa Kirkland for more information.

AMR NEWS

Keeping you informed of recent national and international announcements including the latest AMR policy and regulatory news. 

• Addressing AMR in aquaculture remains central to a functional One Health approach, according to a recent opinion piece published by ReAct -Action on Antibiotic Resistance 
• ICARS (International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions) has published its 2025 Year In Review report, highlighting work to mitigate AMR across a range of LMIC regions. 
• The Quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding on One Health has been renewed until November 2030 - read the joint statement which reaffirms the shared commitment of FAO, UNEP, WHO, and WOAH to advancing the implementation of the One Health approach 

AMR SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

SAAFE's research team has curated a selection of recent publications that may be of interest to our AMR community. 

• Fontaine, Fanette & Ferreira, Jorge & Valcarce, Antonio & Kabali, Emmanuel & Song, Junxia. (2026). Risk of antimicrobial resistance spreading via food loss and waste. Infectious diseases of poverty. 15. 21. 
• Huang J, Zhang J, Liang H, Fang P, Tang A, Klümper U, Guo J, Berendonk TU, Honda R, Lin L, Li X, Li B. Antibiotics or Heavy Metals in Livestock Wastewater: Which One Is the Main Driver for the Development and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance under Coexposure? Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Mar 3;60(8):6510-6524.
• Khamisse E, Bertrand X, Bouchard D et al. Rethinking the role of animals in antimicrobial resistance. The Lancet Microbe, 2025; 7
• Zhao, J., Chen, Y., Wu, J., Yang, H., Prosun, T. A., Dovom, H. A., … Jiang, G. (2026). A multi-dimensional framework for selecting antibiotic resistance gene indicators in wastewater surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 56(5), 221–245.

RECENT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

AMR2026, 18-20 February, Sydney

SAAFE's research community and leadership team joined researchers, regulators, health practitioners and other key AMR stakeholders at AMR2026, hosted by CSIRO and the Fleming Initiative in Sydney last month. As a sponsor of AMR2026, SAAFE was pleased to contribute to the program, with Research Director Professor Erica Donner and Head of Collaboration Dr Mary Carr joining a panel session titled "Cleaning Up Antimicrobial Waste for People and Planet." 

UQ early career researcher Dr Emily Stevenson attended AMR2026 as a member of the early-mid career Summit volunteer team, which afforded her the opportunity to meet with other academics at a similar career stage in the AMR field to network and share ideas throughout the Summit.

Emily reflected "with the support and confidence of the EMCR volunteer team, I was able to make some really positive and beneficial connections. AMR2026 was a global summit and it was amazing to see genuine One Health in action across the program." 

Image supplied by Emily Stevenson. Pictured (l-r): Erica Donner (SAAFE), Lisa Hall (UQ), Mary Carr (SAAFE), Emily Stevenson (UQ), Alex Lloyd (SAAFE CEO)

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Please visit our conferences and meetings page for more details about the below industry and partner events.

• One Health Summit 5 - 7 April 2026, Lyon, France

• Food With Purpose 12 - 14 May 2026, Gold Coast, Queensland

• OzWater 26 - 28 May 2026, Brisbane, Queensland

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